Lesson 27: God’s Sovereignty Produces a Powerful Character Through Suffering

Romans 5:1-4 - “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

Paul says one of the biggest things that should be a source of joy to us in life is suffering. He knew that difficulties help us to learn endurance and endurance is needed to build our character. We live in a world that sees no value in difficulties. In fact, we are told to avoid pain at all costs, and instead pamper ourselves. The average person's goal in life today is to tiptoe through life with as much cushion as possible, just so they can arrive at death safely! But we need difficulties because they shape us into people of character. And a person full of character has the necessary strength to make it through a world full of suffering.


For instance, both of my grandmothers are women of character. They had painful lives. One grandmother lived ten miles from town and had to give birth to one of her children by herself. Afterwards, she cleaned up the baby, and proceeded to get the food ready for the men when they came in from the fields. During the depression, her family lost it all and had to live in a cook shack - an old chuck wagon they used to haul food out to the men in the fields during harvest time. That was their house. I asked her how long they lived in it and she said, "Oh, until the tornado blew it away!" In fact, twice in her life, her house burned down and they were left with nothing but the clothes they wore. My other grandma's daily routine during some rough times was to milk the cow with one hand and with the other she picked up rocks to kill rabbits for food that night!

I admire many people in my family because they have strong characters, because they had many troubles yesterday.

God teaches us a powerful lesson through suffering. He knows a lazy life leads to a weak life. Therefore, our difficult circumstances are serving as an opportunity to ensure that we learn to endure and start producing a powerful character. When we develop a powerful character, we gain the power needed to soar above any and all problems in life no matter what comes our way.

People of God, if the Lord is leading you down a path you cannot understand, or if He has taken away some things in your life that left you bewildered, then rest assured that when all is said and done, you will discover it was one of the best things He could have ever done to you. Why? Because "God in his mercy and wisdom does all things well."

* How has knowing God is Sovereign made a difference in your life?